A Description of Longbourn

As with Jane Austen's character descriptions, the physical qualities of the most prominent fictional buildings (whole locations even!) remain a mystery.  No exception to this lack of descriptive appearance is Longbourn.

Below are a few lines regarding the physical attributes of Longbourn:



They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants.

Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt and to a milliner's shop just over the way.

They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; and his commendation of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his
own future property.


"You have a very small park here," returned Lady Catherine after a short silence.

"This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer; the windows are full west."

"Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company."

As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on.

The Longbourn house contains AT LEAST the following rooms:
Vestibule/Hall
Dining Room
Breakfast Room
Sitting Room
Drawing Room
Library
Mrs. Bennet's Dressing Room
A bedroom (possibly shared by Elizabeth and Jane)

The assumption is that there would be at least  three bedrooms for the girls (shared), a guestroom that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner stay in, the master's chambers, a nursery (possibly 2), and at least one other dressing room.

The Longbourn estate contains AT LEAST the following:
Wilderness
Copse (alongside the paddock)
Gravel Walk
Front Lawn

There also could be a stable/farmhouse of some sort though this is not mentioned.  (This assumption is based on Jane's request for the carriage to take her to Netherfield "'They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.'") The mention of  "in the farm" does not necessarily mean IN the farmhouse, but is an alternate usage of the preposition to mean ON the farm.

This page is constantly under construction.



Welcome to For Pride and Prejudice

For Pride and Prejudice is a resourceful tool for avid readers to submerge themselves into the realm of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudi...